6 Sep 2012
We don’t like to be beside the (UK) seaside
It’s the ultimate traditional British holiday, a couple of weeks beside the sea, probably with a pier, rock pools, stick of rock and donkey rides (in my case, they always seemed to be during a sandstorm on the beach at Rhyl). But however much we might like a staycation, family holidays are getting far more exotic according to a new survey.
When people were asked about their childhood holidays, the majority stayed in the UK with 60% heading to the seaside and 22% to a holiday park, according to HomeAway.co.uk.
But now beach and city breaks abroad are the most popular, with the number who count long-haul trips among their main holiday doubling.
For 18 to 34-year-olds, activity or adventure holidays are most popular, and we’re ditching campsites and B&Bs for hotels – the accommodation of choice for more than half of those surveyed, followed by self-catering holiday homes. And we’re packing in more travel, with 40% taking two to three trips rather than the single holiday which was most usual in the past.
Unsurprisingly, whatever destination we choose, we tend to book online rather than at the traditional travel agent or over the phone. But some classics endure – while we consider our mobiles to be a holiday essential, more than four in 10 still take books away, the same as used to on past trips.
Whether you choose to test your teeth on a stick of rock while reading is entirely up to you.
Image: jadeashley/Flickr
I know a few people who had UK beach holidays this year and loved them. I think the main difference between now and the ahem 20 or so years since my childhood is the cost of holidays abroad. Now the cost is equivalent if not cheaper to go to say Spain, and with the bonus of good weather.
For me everything seems more expensive for UK holidays from the cost of entrances to theme parks and other days out, to the cost of a meal out for a family of four. And that’s if you find a restaurant with decent food happy to take your children.
It’s such a shame – the UK has a lot to offer holiday wise, but we just need to realise we need to offer more to tempt people to stay here on holiday.
Clare at BabyAbroad
September 7th, 2012 at 10:02 ampermalink
Definitely – for years staying in the UK was the only realistic option for most people because of the cost. Now it’s suddenly cheaper to head abroad – it is a shame as there’s so many great places in the UK to have a holiday.
mummytravels
September 7th, 2012 at 10:17 ampermalink